Derrick Smith

Tiztastic (Tiz the Law) used his late speed to effect and took home the second black-type for his first-crop sire (by Constitution) in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile on Sunday. A well-beaten fifth on debut over the main track at Saratoga July 27, the dark bay won against restricted auction company going 6 1/2 furlongs north of the Tennessee line Aug. 29. Showing an affinity for the unique course and as a 9-2 shot here, the juvenile took up a position mid-pack up the backstretch. Beginning to make up some...

Aidan O'Brien trainee Ballet Slippers (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the first foal produced by multiple Group 1-winning distaffer Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), shed maiden status at the third attempt in Friday's Wesco Anixter EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes at Ascot. She had previously encountered the 'TDN Rising Star' displays of Red Letter (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Falling Snow (Ire) (Justify) in outings at the Curragh in July and August and, without anything of that calibre in opposition, justified 1-4 favouritism with a one-length defeat of Music Piece (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the...

Coolmore's Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Mecca's Angel {Ire}, by Dark Angel {Ire}) embellished a 'TDN Rising Star' debut performance with wide-margin wins in the Listed Chesham Stakes and G3 Silver Flash and continued her winning streak with a battling display in Saturday's G2 Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes at the Curragh. Her half-length victory provided trainer Aidan O'Brien with a record-extending 14h triumph in the seven-furlong fillies' test. Bedtime Story was steadied to race fourth through the initial stages and improved one spot approaching halfway. Shaken up when taking closer order...

Aidan O'Brien trainee Officer (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}--Hydrangea {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) justified market support with a snug victory in Saturday's Coolmore Stud The Antarctic Irish EBF Maiden at The Curragh. The eventual winner was positioned in a prominent third after the initial strides of this debut. Rowed along to launch his bid with a quarter-mile remaining, the 7-4 favourite gained an edge approaching the final furlong and kept on strongly in the closing stages to prevail by a half-length from Storm Piece (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}).   🇮🇪 Coolmore...

Continuing Aidan O'Brien and Coolmore's incredible week, Content (Ire) put the icing on the cake on Thursday by bringing up the long-awaited 100th individual group 1 winner for the legendary Galileo (Ire) in the G1 Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks. Close to sealing that deal when an unlucky second to You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the G1 Irish Oaks last month, the daughter of the high-class sprinter Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was merely postponing the celebrations to this meeting at which her dam captured two editions...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--In an intriguing GI Travers Stakes loaded with talent and questions, will anyone be surprised if 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) wins? Nope. Although it is unlikely that the colt trained by Chad Brown will be the betting favorite Saturday in the 155th running of the signature race at Saratoga Race Course--he is a narrow fourth at 7-2 on the morning line--Sierra Leone's record demands respect. He has never been worse than third in seven career starts. One of those victories came in the GI Blue...

Brilliant horses like City Of Troy (Justify--Together Forever {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) are always on the line when it comes to reputation and aura and there was no disguising the fact that Wednesday's G1 Juddmonte International represented his moment of truth regardless of prior achievements. Despite coming to York as a clear-cut 2-year-old champion, an impressive Derby winner and the current holder of an Eclipse, there was a tension in the atmosphere on the storied Knavesmire expanse that was accompanied by threatening and brooding clouds and a strange autumnal air....

With only five runners, Wednesday's G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes could have been short on entertainment but the opposite was the case as three runners created a stirring finish which saw Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}--Frequential {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) prevail. Handed a five-pound penalty due to his G1 Irish Derby exploits, Ballydoyle's Derby third was looking to do something out of the ordinary here and he had to work to get it over the line but luckily he is a grafter as well as a class act and proved well...

Aidan O'Brien trainee The Lion In Winter (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--What A Home {Ire}, by Lope De Vega {Ire}), a €375,000 Goffs Orby yearling, attained 'TDN Rising Star' status with an impressive debut display tackling seven furlongs at the Curragh last month and stepped forward to deliver a track-record performance over the same trip in Wednesday's G3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at York. The 2-1 second favourite was swiftly into stride and raced on the front end from flagfall in this one-turn test. Nudged along when threatened passing the quarter-mile...

He's been a bit hit-and-miss so far in his brief career, but Ballydoyle's Whistlejacket (Ire) (No Nay Never--Adventure Seeker {Fr}, by Bering {GB}) was in front where it mattered to master his peers in Sunday's stallion-making G1 Sumbe Prix Morny at Deauville. Breaking fast to get the stands' rail, the 27-10 favourite was able to force the pace without the kind of pressure he had endured during last Sunday's G1 Phoenix Stakes. The G2 July Stakes winner kept finding for Ryan Moore to get to the line 3/4 of a...

Aidan O'Brien trainee Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Quiet Reflection {GB}, by Showcasing {GB}) attained 'TDN Rising Star' status with a narrow victory in her June 28 debut tackling seven furlongs at the Curragh and doubled up in style with a pillar-to-post victory in Saturday's G3 JenningsBet Sweet Solera Stakes over the same trip at Newmarket. The Sean Levey-ridden filly broke smartly and was a shade keen on the front end through the early strides of this black-type bow. Settling into a comfortable rhythm by halfway, the 11-8 favourite was held...

   Like many Ballydoyle juveniles, Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}--Tepin, by Bernstein) is very much a work in progress but everybody had a glimpse of what was to come in The Curragh's opener on Saturday as the son of the US legend overcame adversity to win his maiden with comfort. In doing so, the heavily-supported 2-5 favourite was become the stable's latest TDN Rising Star and his sire's 42nd in that category. Showing distinct promise when second on his Leopardstown debut last month, the half-brother to the yard's G3 Stanerra Stakes-winning...